John sweeney



JOHN SWEENEY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD OF HISRIGHT TO JAMES T. LEIGHTON, OF SAME PLACE.

CAR-DOOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 232,153, datedSeptember 14, 1880.

.Application filed J une 24, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.:

Beitknown that I, JOHN SWEENEY, a citizen of the United States, residingat New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, haveinvented certain new and use ful Improvements in Car-Doors; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact descriptionot' the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to '1owhich it al'ipertains to make and use the same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings,and to letters or iigures of reference markedthereon, which form a part ot' this specification.

x5 This invention relates to doors for boxecars; and it consists in thepeculiar construction and combination ot' parts hereinafter set forthand claimed. I

The same letters of reference indicate the zo sainepartsin thedift'erentgures of' thcdrawings.

Figure l represents an exterior elevation of my improved door, and Fig.2 an elevation of the same taken from the inner side.

The doo as a whole runs on rollers on the outside of the car, so that itmay be shifted horizontally toopcn or close the doorway in the usualmanner.

A designates the wooden body of said door, consistingof strips a; and B,a metallic frame which incloses it. This 4frame consists ot' side walls,3 Bf, and cross-pieces B2. The sides B are provided with exteriorflanges, b, oneto each wall, running the entire height of the 3 5vertical edge oi" the door and overlapping` and bracing the wooden bodyA. The horizontal cross-pieces B2 are provided with feet b', wherebythey are secured to the said side walls, B. These cross-pieces are madeof angle-iron,and the vertical portion of each crosspiece is constructedwith a series of slots or horizontally-elongated holes, b2. Spaceis leftfor the wooden body Abetween the cross-pieces B2 and the exteriorflanges, b, and the said body A is secured to the frame by screws C,

or equivalent fastening' devices, which pass through said slots or holesb2.

The wooden body A preferably consists, as

shown, ot a series ot' strips of sheathing arranged edge to edge; and toprovide for the 5o unequal expansion oi' the several strips the oblongslots b2 allow them to contract or expand, according to the dr yness ormoisture of the air without straining on the points of attachment.

The outer ianges, b, protect the 'wooden part ot' the door from injuryat the points where it is most exposed. They may be extended across thetop and bottom ot' it also, if desired.

The door cannot warp, as the cross-pieces B2 will not bend. Hence itnecessarily always retains its proper shape and is in condition forservice.

The angular construction ot' all parts of the 65 frame B secures thegreatest possible amount of strength consistent with the requisitedegree of lightness.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by 7o Letters Patent, is-

l. In combination with the wooden body A, the metal frame B, consistingof side pieces, B', havin g exterior ilanges, l), and cross-pieces, B2,having feet b', the said body A being se- 75 cured to said cross-pieces.

2. In combination with frame B, having cross-pieces B2, which areprovided with slots or oblougholes b2, the fastening-screws C, passingthrough said slots, and the strips a, form- 8o ing the wooden body A,and held by said screws in said frame in such manner as to allowcontraction or expansion, as set forth.

3. A car-door consisting of a metallic frame and a wooden body.

Il. A car-door consisting of a metallic frame and a wooden body, saidparts being constructed in such manner as to allow the expansion andcontraction ot' the wooden portion ot' the door independently ot' theframe. 9o

ln testimony whereof l affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN SWEENEY.

Witnesses:

A. B. JAcocKs, ROBERT T. MERWIN.

